35 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.
Genesis 29:35 (NIV)
Genesis 29:35 (NIV)
I saw the hurt in her eyes, as she quickly moved her gaze from mine. "It wasn't supposed to happen like this," she said half to me and the other half as though she was trying to convince herself. I looked back up and caught her eyes with my own. It felt like I knew her so well. Her helplessness pinched at my nerves... I could relate. She is the young woman in the Bible named Leah.
Now in the book of Genesis, chapter 29, we meet a young woman by the name of Leah, the eldest daughter of Laban. A man by the name of Jacob came to his Uncle Laban's land to find a wife and fell in love with his youngest daughter Rachel. However in the uncle's custom the oldest daughter is given away before the youngest . Jacob did not love Leah but he respected his uncle's customs and really wanted Rachel so he "dealt with" Leah . God saw that Leah was not being loved and so he let her bare a child .
Her first born was named "Reuben" because she felt as though this first child would make her husband love her. The second child was named Simeon . Along with this child she was still focusing on not being loved. Then her third son came and she named him Levi , thinking that her husband would see all the namesakes she's bore for him and he would love her finally.
Then Leah bore her last son , who she named Judah which means "To Praise" in Hebrew. She named him this because she wanted to praise God for her blessings and all that he'd given her.
Often times we get caught up with attempting to please man, and forget the root of our blessing while struggling to get them to notice us . God does not bless us for man to notice us but instead so that we can know that he has not forgotten his promises. His love is unconditional and is not designed based on what we can do for Him . Instead he would like to do for us. He would like to birth a fruitful baby from the very depths of our souls, despite those who have neglected to love us. We are given many chances and eventually Leah understood where her love was to come from, and so did I.
Let's keep our eyesight on all those things that God has manifested in our life. We have to train our minds not to be measured by the flawed eyesight of man. God bless you! and Love you!
Now in the book of Genesis, chapter 29, we meet a young woman by the name of Leah, the eldest daughter of Laban. A man by the name of Jacob came to his Uncle Laban's land to find a wife and fell in love with his youngest daughter Rachel. However in the uncle's custom the oldest daughter is given away before the youngest . Jacob did not love Leah but he respected his uncle's customs and really wanted Rachel so he "dealt with" Leah . God saw that Leah was not being loved and so he let her bare a child .
Her first born was named "Reuben" because she felt as though this first child would make her husband love her. The second child was named Simeon . Along with this child she was still focusing on not being loved. Then her third son came and she named him Levi , thinking that her husband would see all the namesakes she's bore for him and he would love her finally.
Then Leah bore her last son , who she named Judah which means "To Praise" in Hebrew. She named him this because she wanted to praise God for her blessings and all that he'd given her.
Often times we get caught up with attempting to please man, and forget the root of our blessing while struggling to get them to notice us . God does not bless us for man to notice us but instead so that we can know that he has not forgotten his promises. His love is unconditional and is not designed based on what we can do for Him . Instead he would like to do for us. He would like to birth a fruitful baby from the very depths of our souls, despite those who have neglected to love us. We are given many chances and eventually Leah understood where her love was to come from, and so did I.
Let's keep our eyesight on all those things that God has manifested in our life. We have to train our minds not to be measured by the flawed eyesight of man. God bless you! and Love you!